Improvement in levices for opening and closing furnace-doors



2 Sheeis--Sheet i.

' s. L. DENNEY. Devices for Opening and Closing 'Furnace-Doors.`

UNITED STATES PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN [EVICES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING FURNACE-DOORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 158.475, dated January 5, 1875; application filed November 18, 1874.4

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. DENNEY, of Gap, Lancaster county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Devices for Opening and Closing the Fire-Doors of Locomotive-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in providing certain improvements whereby the necessary amount of oxygen for consuming' the gases generated from bituminous coal can beregulated. By the method now employed of opening and closing the furnace-doors of locomotive-engines with the hand the door is necessarily kept open so long that too much cold airis admitted, which reduces the temperature of the boiler below the igniting-point, allowing the gases to escape nncon sumed. My invention is so arranged that the iireman, by a slight pressure with the foot, can open and close the door instantly; that it'is kept open no longer than is necessary to deposit the coal and withdraw the shovel. y

The accompanying drawings represent my invention, as follows Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation taken at an angle which shows the operating devices more clearly. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the door wide open and the operating devices in their different positions assumed when opening and closing the door. Fig. 6 is a plan or top view. Fig. 7 is an end view, the

door being held slightly open.

The following is a description of the construction of my invention: a represents the door with its latch b, which is unchanged in form from those in general use on locomotiveengines. cis a shaft with journals at the ends, resting in bearings in stands d d, which are bolted firmly to the fire-box of the boiler. At the left side, and near the end of said shaft, is secured a foot-lever, E, with a vertical arm, f, extending up near to the under edge ofthe latch b. A mortise is formed through the head of said arm to receive the end of the vertical lifting-rod G. (More clearly shown in Fig. 3.) Said rod is connected and works on a pin at the back end of the upper foot-lever hf, which is connected by suitable jaws to the main lever e by a bolt, J, on which it has liberty to move. The foot-piece h of the upper lever is adjusted so that it has, when pressed down against the main lever by lifting the vertical rod G, raised the la'tch out of the notch in the catch, preparatory to forcing the door open. At the opposite end of shaft c, and at equal distances from the center 'of the hinge-pin L, are two arms, o o. slightly bent forward at their upper ends. These arms are, by the downward movement of the main footlever, pressed against the inner face of the plate m, which is bolted fast to the door. rlhe end of plate m next the hinge is bent outward at right angles, so that when the door is open it stands in a position to be acted on by the arm 2, nearest to the outer end of the shaft, as shown, and marked by the arrow in Fig'. 5.. The horizontal lever P, which is pivoted at s to the shaft o, is connected to the upper or lifting foot-lever -at its back end, with liberty to work freely on a pin passing` through suitable jaws to hold it in position. For the purpose of holding the door open while probing the fire with the poker a strong spring-catch, X, is

bolted to the brace t, and has a suitable notch, the end being beveled.. Vhen `the door is thrown open the plate m vdepresses spring X and is caught in the notch, which holds the door in that position. The end of springX is bent at right angle in the direction of the fire-box, extending under and a short distance past the lever l, which is shown in Fig. 6.

lt will be readily seen that by the application of pressure to levers h and c the latch will be lifted out ot' the notch, and simultaneously arm 01, Fig. l, is made to act against plate m, thereby forcing the door open. Arm l continues to follow the door through halt' the distance it has to move in being opened.

The foot is raised from the lever by the time y the door has moved through half its course, and returned to its former position, accelerated by the spring w, employed for that purpose. The momentum acquired by the door from the pressure applied through lever e and arm 1, carries it with certainty to where it is caught by Aspring X and firmly held in that position. By a repetition of the .same move- EEroE.

ment of therfoot that part of lever P which comes in contact with spring X depresses the latter, releasing it from plate m, and simultaneously closing the door by the contact of arm o2 against the angular face of plate m. The position of arm o1 and o2 being so near to the pin on which the door swings7 all the necessary leverage to operate the door is thereby secured. The device designated by the letter y, and shown in the position of holding the door in Fig. 7, is designed to hold it slightly open to admit sufficient air to check the iire While descending a grade Where a rapid generation of steam is not required. When not in use it is turned up to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I claim as my invention- The combination of the shaft c, stands d d, levers e and h, lifting-rod g, horizontal lever P, arms o1 o2, plate m, spring w, and. catchspring X, substantially in the manner as herein set forth.

SAMUEL L. DENNEY. Witnesses:

H. DENNEY, M. DENNEY. 

